Abstract: A process for the conversion of a hydrocarbon to CO2 and electrical power is described which includes subjecting a gas mixture of a hydrocarbon feed stream and steam to an integrated reforming process including stages of steam reforming in a gas-heated reformer and secondary reforming to generate a reformed gas mixture, increasing the hydrogen content of the reformed gas mixture by subjecting it to one or more water-gas-shift stages, cooling the resulting hydrogen-enriched reformed gas and separating condensed water therefrom, passing the resulting de-watered hydrogen-enriched reformed gas to one or more stages of carbon dioxide separation to recover carbon dioxide, combusting the remaining hydrogen-containing fuel stream with an oxygen containing gas in a gas turbine to generate electrical power and passing the exhaust gas mixture from the gas turbine to a heat recovery steam generation system that feeds one or more steam turbines to generate additional electrical power.

Abstract: A process for increasing the hydrogen content of a synthesis gas containing one or more sulphur compounds is described, comprising the steps of (i) heating the synthesis gas and (ii) passing at least part of the heated synthesis gas and steam through a reactor containing a sour shift catalyst, wherein the synthesis gas is heated by passing it through a plurality of tubes disposed within said catalyst in a direction co-current to the flow of said synthesis gas through the catalyst. The resulting synthesis gas may be passed to one or more additional reactors containing sour shift catalyst to maximise the yield of hydrogen production, or used for methanol production, for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of liquid hydrocarbons or for the production of synthetic natural gas.

Abstract: A process for the generation of a synthesis gas comprising: (a) forming a raw synthesis gas, (b) dividing the raw synthesis gas into first and second streams, (c) subjecting the first stream to the water gas shift reaction to form a shifted gas mixture, (d) cooling the second raw synthesis gas stream and shifted gas mixture to below the dew point to form a dry raw synthesis gas mixture, and a dry shifted gas mixture respectively, (e) feeding the dry raw synthesis gas mixture and a dry shifted gas mixture to a gas-washing unit operating by counter-current solvent flow, such that the solvent flowing through said unit contacts first with the dry raw gas mixture and then the dry shifted gas mixture, and (f) collecting from said gas-washing unit a synthesis gas having a stoichiometry ratio, R?(H2—CO2)/(CO+CO2), in the range 1.4 to 3.3.

Abstract: A method for reducing the interaction between carbon monoxide present in a heat exchange medium and metals on the shell side of heat exchange reformer apparatus used for reforming of hydrocarbons by treatment of the shell-side of said apparatus with an effective amount of at least one passivation compound containing at least one element selected from phosphorus, tin, antimony, arsenic, lead, bismuth, copper, germanium, silver or gold is described. Where volatile compounds are formed by the passivation compound, the method further comprises compound recovery to prevent contamination and deactivation of subsequent process steps. The method reduces side reactions, provides improved reformer tube lifetime and allows tubes to be treated in-situ without the need for process shutdown.

Abstract: A method for passivating low-alloy steel surfaces in apparatus operating in the temperature range 350 to 580° C. and exposed to a carbon monoxide containing gas mixture comprises adding a passivating compound containing at least one phosphorus (P) atom to the gas mixture. The gas mixture is preferably a reformed gas and also described is a process for producing a synthesis gas wherein, prior to cooling a reformed gas mixture to a temperature between 350 and 580° C. in apparatus having low-alloy steel surfaces downstream of one or more reforming steps, a passivating compound containing at least one phosphorus (P) atom is combined with the gas mixture.

Abstract: Propane and/or butanes are separated from a hydrocarbon feedstock contaminated with alkyl mercaptans by fractional distillation at such a pressure that the separated overheads stream containing said propane and/or butanes is at a temperature in the range 50 to 100° C. Sufficient oxygen is introduced into the hydrocarbon feedstock to oxidise the mercaptans therein and the resultant mixture is subjected to the fractional distillation in a column including at least one bed of a catalyst capable, under the prevailing conditions, of oxidising the mercaptans to higher boiling point sulphur compounds. These higher boiling point sulphur compounds are separated as part of the liquid phase from the distillation.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrocarbons is described including; a) subjecting a mixture of a hydrocarbon feedstock and steam to catalytic steam reforming to form a partially reformed gas, b) subjecting the partially reformed gas to partial combustion with an oxygen-containing gas and bringing the resultant partially combusted gas towards equilibrium over a steam reforming catalyst to form a reformed gas mixture, c) cooling the reformed gas mixture to below the dew point of the steam therein to condense water and separating condensed water to give a de-watered synthesis gas, d) synthesising hydrocarbons from side de-watered synthesis gas by the Fischer-Tropsch reaction and e) separating the hydrocarbons from co-produced water, characterised in that at least part of said co-produced water is fed to a saturator wherein it is contacted with hydrocarbon feedstock to provide at least part of the mixture of hydrocarbon feedstock and steam subjected to steam reforming.

Abstract: A process for production of hydrocarbons including a) reforming a divided hydrocarbon feedstock stream, mixing the first stream with steam, passing the mixture over a catalyst disposed in heated heat exchange reformer tubes to form a primary reformed gas, forming a secondary reformer feed stream including the primary reformed gas and the second hydrocarbon stream, partially combusting the secondary reformer feed stream and bringing the partially combusted gas towards equilibrium over a secondary catalyst, and producing a partially cooled reformed gas, b) further cooling the partially cooled reformed gas below the dew point of steam therein to condense water and separating condensed water to give a de-watered synthesis gas, c) synthesising hydrocarbons from the de-watered synthesis gas by the Fischer-Tropsch reaction and separating some of the synthesised hydrocarbons into a tail gas, and d) incorporating part of the tail gas into the secondary reformer feed stream before partial combustion thereof.

Abstract: Synthesis gas for a Fischer-Tropsch process is obtained by primary steam reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock in tubes in a heat exchange reformer, subjecting the primary reformed gas to secondary reforming and using the hot secondary reformed gas to heat the tubes in the heat exchange reformer. The resultant reformed gas is cooled, de-watered and used to form hydrocarbons in the Fischer-Tropsch process. At least part of the tail gas from the Fischer-Tropsch process is combusted in a gas turbine to provide power for the reforming process.

Abstract: Production of synthesis gas for use for synthesising carbon-containing compounds, typically having a hydrogen to carbon monoxide molar ratio of about 2 and a low carbon dioxide content, by primary reforming a gaseous mixture containing hydrocarbons, 0.6 to 2 moles of steam per gram atom of hydrocarbon and 0.2 to 0.6 moles of recycled carbon dioxide per gram atom of hydrocarbon, in a heat exchange reformer and then secondary reforming the resultant primary reformed gas, heating the heat exchange reformer with the resultant secondary reformed gas; cooling and condensing steam from the secondary reformed gas to give a de-watered gas stream having a carbon dioxide content below 20% by volume. The recycled carbon dioxide is recovered from the de-watered gas stream, before or after use thereof for the synthesis reaction.

Abstract: Production of synthesis gas for use for synthesising carbon-containing compounds, typically having a hydrogen to carbon monoxide molar ratio of about 2 and a low carbon dioxide content, by primary reforming a gaseous mixture containing hydrocarbons, 0.6 to 2 moles of steam per gram atom of hydrocarbon and 0.2 to 0.6 moles of recycled carbon dioxide per gram atom of hydrocarbon, in a heat exchange reformer and then secondary reforming the resultant primary reformed gas, heating the heat exchange reformer with the resultant secondary reformed gas; cooling and condensing steam from the secondary reformed gas to give a de-watered gas stream having a carbon dioxide content below 20% by volume. The recycled carbon dioxide is recovered from the de-watered gas stream, before or after use thereof for the synthesis reaction.

Abstract: A process for the production of methanol comprises converting a hydrocarbon feedstock at a pressure above the desired synthesis pressure into a synthesis gas mixture containing hydrogen, carbon oxides and steam at an elevated temperature and pressure, cooling said mixture to condense water from the mixture, separating the condensed water, and passing the resultant gas mixture, with no further compression and no recycle of unreacted gas, at an elevated temperature through a series of at least two methanol synthesis stages with separation of synthesised methanol from the gas mixture after each stage is disclosed. The hydrocarbon feedstock is converted into the synthesis gas mixture by a catalytic steam reforming process wherein the heat required for reforming is supplied by the products of combustion of the unreacted gas remaining after separation of synthesised methanol, and, preferably also by the reformed gas after it has left the reforming catalyst.

Abstract: Process for the co-production of hydrogen and methanol by steam reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock, condensing and separating steam from the reformed gas, synthesizing methanol from the resultant de-watered reformed gas without further compression, separating synthesized methanol and separating hydrogen from the residual gas, optionally after subjecting the residual gas to the shift reaction is disclosed.

Abstract: An exothermic catalytic process, particularly methanol synthesis, wherein reactants are passed through a fixed bed of a catalyst and heat evolved by the reaction is transferred to at least part of the reactants fed to the catalyst bed by heat exchange means to which said part of the reactants are fed, characterized by operation of the process under conditions whereby increasing the temperature at which said reactants are fed to the catalyst bed has the effect of increasing the temperature to which said reactants are heated in said heat exchange means, and vice versa, and controlling said process by monitoring the temperature of said reactants leaving said heat exchange means and/or entering said bed, decreasing the temperature at which the reactants are fed to said heat exchange means in response to any increase in said monitored temperature from a desired level, and increasing the temperature at which the reactants are fed to said heat exchange means in response to any decrease in said monitored temperature